A month or two ago, Microsoft launched another operating system, with very little publicity, in contrast to the high-profile launch of the unexciting Windows Vista. Its name? Windows Home Server. And what does it do? Basically, it’s a server for multi-computer home setups, and just one of the things it can do is to back up all your data automatically.
It’s available already to OEMs, and you can buy a complete appliance with WHS installed. Soon, part-built chassis will be available to various designs.
Computer buffs, the kind of people who like spending a week building a PC and installing software, point out that you can do the same job cheaper with a Linux distro, e.g. with an Ubuntu server. But the Microsoft solution looks to be less bother for the average Joe.